The game was rescheduled game for Dec. 5 and UCLA suffered a heart-wrenching 49-45 defeat. The Bruins could have won the game 15 times over by making something known in football parlance as a "tackle."

Victory would have put UCLA in the first BCS title game, at Tempe's Sun Devil Stadium, against Tennessee.

If only UCLA had played that game under today's rules. A ruled fumble by receiver Brad Melsby would have been overturned by instant replay review. Melsby's knee would have been ruled down and UCLA probably would have run out the clock for a 45-42 win.

UCLA finished fifth in the final BCS standings behind Tennessee, Florida State, Kansas State and Ohio State. But had there been a four-team playoff that year, the selection committee might have awarded UCLA the fourth spot.

Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Members of the UCLA football team celebrate after defeating USC, 35-14, at the Coliseum last season. For UCLA to earn one of the four new College Football Playoff spots they'll likely need to repeat against the Trojans and win the Pac-12 title.

Members of the UCLA football team celebrate after defeating USC, 35-14, at the Coliseum last season. For UCLA to earn one of the four new College Football Playoff spots they'll likely need to repeat against the Trojans and win the Pac-12 title. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

And so here we are, 16 years later, with UCLA sitting again on the national doorstep. Nostalgically, we have started the Bruins where they finished in the 1998 BCS standings: fifth.

It puts UCLA in not-quite-playoff position, but also with directions on how to get there.

The playoff talk started when quarterback Brett Hundley decided to forgo the NFL draft and return to campus for one last shot at glory.

Jim Mora's third year as coach sets up as UCLA's best in years. The schedule has everything a selection committee would want.

In the new system, unlike 1998, UCLA might even be able to absorb a loss and still make the playoffs.

Let's say the Bruins lose at home to Oregon on Oct. 11, but go on to beat Oregon in a rematch for the Pac-12 title. It is easy to think the one-loss champions of the nation's second-best conference would get one of the four spots.

Of course, defending Pac-12 South champion Arizona State may have a say in UCLA's playoff plans when the Bruins play the Sun Devils in Tempe on Sept. 25. And USC, we hear, is eager to snap a two-game losing streak against its crosstown rival.

Mora is smart to downplay all this playoff talk. His dad Jim once ranted famously on that subject.

The coach is carefully couching what is possible for his Bruins. "Lot of expectations out there, as I've read, for our team," he said.

It's ultimately up to the Bruins to write their history.

UCLA's playoff dreams could be derailed by any number of issues or formidable opponents.

Doesn't the road to the Pac-12 title still run through Stanford, which has defeated UCLA six straight seasons since 2008?

The Bruins' last win over Oregon was in 2007, after the Ducks lost star quarterback Dennis Dixon to a season-ending knee injury.

UCLA football has always favored the overachieving, underdog role. The Bruins have not always responded well when the spotlight shines in their eyes.